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The latest in a series on top prospects by position leading up to the April 26-27 NFL Draft:
Top prospects: RB | DT | WR | DE | QB | OT | G-C | OLB | ILB | TE
A wise scout once summed up the running backs entering the NFL Draft in the simplest way possible:
"All they do is run and maybe block some," the scout said. "It's not really that hard a position to learn. They've been running their whole lives. They take the ball and go."
It's not quite that simple, but you get the point. From the time a kid takes the handoff in the backyard playing pickup football, he's taught to run fast, break tackles and get to the end zone.
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| Arkansas' McFadden is expected to be the only back to go in the top 10. (US Presswire) |
Maybe that's why this year's crop of running backs is considered to be such a strong position. Many of them can just take the ball and go.
Plus, there are all types to choose from: Big, strong, fast, quick, elusive and powerful.
"This is a good draft for running backs," Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "There's a number of different styles of running backs, depending on what you need and how they fit."
That's the good news.
The bad news is that the abundance of them might actually hurt their draft position. It's the old draft lesson regarding supply and demand; there's so many of them that the demand might not be as great as if the supply were limited.
"I don't know if there are a ton of teams in the league that have a first-round need at running back," one NFC personnel director said. "So that will push some really quality backs to the second round, or even later."
The clear-cut, top choice of all the runners is Darren McFadden from Arkansas. He is 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, has blazing speed and is already being compared to Adrian Peterson, who starred for the Minnesota Vikings as a rookie last year.
Most scouts think Peterson is a cut above McFadden, but even if McFadden is just a tad behind he should be special.
